mother started.
“We’ve chosen “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” as our first book. Apparently, it’s very edgy,” Mom informed me. “Leonard says it’s a movie as well, and that when I’m finished, we’ll have to watch it.”
“Oh, you and Leonard are still talking?” I asked, trying not to pry. I still didn’t quite know how to talk to my mother about her dating life. It was very uncharted territory.
Mom trained her gaze on her plate, pushing lettuce around with her fork. “Yes, and he’s actually taking me away for the weekend to his cabin by the lake.” Her jaw was tense as if waiting for me to attack her.
“Oh,” was all I said, taking a bite of my sandwich.
Mom lifted her eyes to look at me warily. “You don’t have anything to say about it?”
“Should I have something to say about it?” I put a French fry in my mouth.
“You can tell me if it bothers you. I understand it must be hard for you and Meg to see me with someone else. But Leo is a wonderful man. We’ve taken things really slow. We’ve only just slept together—”
“I don’t need the details, Mom,” I interjected, trying not to cringe.
“I’m only saying that it’s not as if I’m jumping into bed with the first man to give me some attention. I’ve been asked out quite a bit since your dad passed away, I’ll have you know. And I turned them all down. Leo’s the first I wanted to spend time with,” she huffed indignantly.
“Why are you being so defensive? Have Meg or I given you any indication that we’re not supportive? Has either of us made you feel bad for dating Leonard? Meg thinks it’s great, and I do too.” I took her hand, and she relaxed noticeably.
“I don’t want either of you to ever think I’m forgetting about your father. He will always be the love of my life. It’s been so hard without him, but Leo makes life less lonely.” Her smile was a little watery and her eyes wet, but she seemed happy. The happiest she had been since my dad died.
“We both want you to be happy. And if Leo makes you happy, then I’m happy. Meg is too.”
Mom patted the back of my hand. “And that’s what I want for you.”
“I’m getting there, Mom,” I told her sincerely. “I really am.”
**
“How was your Mom?” Kyle asked later that evening.
“She was good. Still seeing Leo Ship. He’s taking her to his lake house this weekend.” I took a pair of pajamas from the dresser in Katie’s room. Kyle was chasing his daughter around the room, trying to herd her into the bathroom for a bath. So far, she wasn’t having it.
“Oh wow, getting serious then,” Kyle commented as Katie ran past him and out to the hallway. “Ugh, Katie, get back here! You can have bubbles!”
“No!” I heard her yell, followed by the pitter-patter of her footsteps, then the very loud slam of his bedroom door.
“I think you might need reinforcements.” I chuckled. “May I?”
“Please. You’d think I was going to dip her in battery acid.” Kyle sighed tiredly. He looked exhausted. I knew the stress of the custody trial as well as the increase in his workload was wearing on him.
“Katie Boo, where are you?” I called out.
“No!” I heard her sweet voice shout from somewhere in Kyle’s room.
I found her hiding under the blankets on his king-sized bed.
“Oh, where oh where can Katie Boo be?” I sang before pulling the blankets back in a dramatic swoosh.
“Ahh!” she screamed as I scooped her up into my arms and ran her down the hallway to the bathroom.
“It’s time to wash the princess!” I declared. “Bubbles or no bubbles?” I asked, not giving her time to throw a fit. I had learned that keeping her occupied was the key to stopping temper tantrums.
“Bubbles!” Katie yelled her hands in the air.
“Bubbles it is. I think you need your magic wand, so they get extra big.” I handed her the plastic wand with the star on the end. “Now stand there and say the magic word, abracadabra. And we’ll watch the bubbles grow.”
“Yes! Bubs!”
The water was running into the tub, and I poured some bubble solution under the faucet. “Abracadabra!” I shouted, waving my hands around.
Abacaba!” Katie tried to imitate.
“Look at the bubbles, Katie!” I gasped, lifting her up again and bending her over the bathtub.
“Ohhh,” she whispered in awe.
Without any further shenanigans, I was able to get her